Advancing On Orbit Assembly with the Intelligent Space Assembly Robotic System: the Path to Flight

D. Wenberg et al. (2018), JBIS, 71, pp.250-254

Refcode: 2018.71.250Keywords: RSat, On Orbit Assembly

Abstract:The advent and proliferation of autonomous robotic systems have revolutionized terrestrial manufacturing. By reducing
human involvement, production rates have soared while costs have plummeted. This same revolution has yet to make
the jump to space. Current robotic arms in space are primarily human controlled and are not entrusted to operate
independently. While construction of larger objects in orbit has been augmented by such robotic arms, their operation is
slowed by communications delays from the ground as well as the cost and time it takes to launch a human operator into
space. The limitations on spacecraft size as dictated by rocket capability serves as an impediment to operating larger and
more advanced spacecraft. The U.S. Naval Academy is seeking to improve this assembly process with the Intelligent Space
Assembly Robot (ISAR) system. ISAR combines current space robotic arms developed by the Naval Academy with an
ability to operate autonomously. This paper will discuss the design modifications for the on orbit demonstrator as well as
the design and preliminary results from the ground test platform. The paper will outline the full concept of operations of
the robotic system.